Following the Lunar New Year holiday, South Korea's ruling party, the People Power Party, and the opposition party, the Democratic Party, are gearing up for local elections by establishing candidate selection committees. However, the Democratic Party is grappling with the fallout from its failed early merger with the Justice Party, which has led to tensions surrounding electoral alliances. Meanwhile, the People Power Party is dealing with internal strife concerning the expulsion of loyalty to former leader Han Dong-hoon, suggesting that the transition to an election-ready status will be anything but smooth.

The Democratic Party aims to finalize candidate nominations by April 20, a month before the official campaign begins, to maximize preparation time for the general election. To this end, they have swiftly organized their internal structure by appointing Kim Yi-soo, a former constitutional judge, as head of the candidate selection committee. The People Power Party is following suit by appointing key figures to their candidate selection leadership and aims to finalize their committee shortly. In a push for rebranding, they are also set to change their party name and upgrade their promotional materials for the upcoming election.

Despite having a favorable public sentiment towards the Democratic Party, uncertainties loom for both parties. For the Democratic Party, the internal divisions between pro-merger and anti-merger factions could resurface, complicating their electoral strategy. Meanwhile, the People Power Party’s challenge lies in resolving its internal discord after significant disciplinary action against members aligned with the former leadership. The outcome of these internal conflicts will likely be crucial in shaping both parties' successes in the forthcoming local elections.